Off To A Great Start

Three games done and Ginebra is still unbeaten. After dominating the Mixers and the Elasto Painters, Ginebra had a huge scare before vintage Caguioa delivered at crunch time against the rookies of Global Port to go 3-0.

It has been the strongest start of Ginebra in years. I have been used to seeing them drop one game after the other in the early goings of a conference before coming back strong in the homestretch. Certainly a good sign for the team aching to end their six-year title drought. 

Getting Japeth in a trade last year was the start of it all. Drafting Slaughter was the second step. Now Ginebra has a potent Twin Tower combination similar to the Aquino-Feihl tandem of the 90's. The only difference is that Greg and Japeth are more mobile than Marlou and EJ. 

With two big men manning the middle, the likes of LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, Chris Ellis,and Jayjay Helterbrand is now more confident to take outside shots or drive to the lane knowing that there will be someone who will pick up the rebound. 

So far so good as far as Slaughter is concerned. Contrary to criticisms that he is slow and will not thrive in the run and gun offense of Ginebra, the 7-foot former Blue Eagle has wrecked havoc on both offense and defense. Three games in he has churned in double-double games game in and game out. In three games, he has averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds,and 2 blocks per outing. 

Japeth has also delivered consistent numbers for the Kings. He has shined both offensively and defensively. He is truly comfortable playing the power forward spot. Mark and LA has delivered their usual numbers. There are other guys who will provide the points whenever they are fielded in. 

Fans are looking up in the standings for a change after the first three games. Hoping that this is finally the year when the Kings finally reclaim their throne. 

Pinning Their Hopes On Greg

Fans expectation went sky high during draft day when Barangay Ginebra drafted 7 foot Gilas stalwart Greg Slaughter. For years, the man in the middle has been the problem of Ginebra ever since the departure of Eric Menk and Marlou Aquino. Since then, there had been a huge gaping hole in Ginebra's interior defense. Without a legitimate center, opponents have made mince meat of their defense. 

Ginebra had made moves to fill up that hole in the middle. Last year, they took in the likes of Yousef Taha and Kerby Raymundo. Due to lack of playing time, Taha did not fulfill that requirement and was traded for Japeth Aguilar. At 6'9", it seems that he would finally be the one to fill up that requirement. But he was injured and Ginebra was not able to make it to the later rounds. 

Coming in to Draft Day, fans became excited on the prospect of having a 7 footer playing for their beloved team. First of all, a 7 footer comes once in a blue moon. The last time Ginebra had one was during the 90's with EJ Feihl. Also, Slaughter had good credentials prior to his awaited entry into the pro leagues. A champion player in college and in the D-League, it seems that Greg would finally be the so-called "savior" for Ginebra. 

And so it happened. The 7-foot Gilas player is now officially a ka-Barangay. With his entry, Ginebra's throngs of die hard fans finally have a reason to hope that the team's title drought would finally be quenched. Marlou Aquino gave Ginebra a championship and won Rookie of the Year. Eric Menk gave the barangay a championship and became MVP. Will Slaughter follow suit and end Ginebra's six year title drought? Fans are hoping that he would. 

Deja Vu For Barangay Ginebra

I have seen this image over and over again so I think I know how this will end. With a 1-3 record, Barangay Ginebra is once again down at the bottom of the standings. This is not unfamiliar territory for the Kings. In fact, they have been through these kind of situations several times before. What happened? They manage to find a way to get out of the bottom.

Just last conference, Ginebra went on a 0-4 start. This was due to a bad choice of import. So people started to write off the Kings for that conference. Even us Ginebra fans went to the point of doubting whether or not the team can still recover from their predicament. Enter Vernon Macklin.

Vernon Macklin saved Ginebra's campaign for that conference. After losing his opening game, V-Mack then powered the Kings to six straight wins. There was feasting and merrymaking all over social networks and forums. But just as fans were on a high, the Kings stumbled to three straight losses. What made matters worst was they they ended up as the number 7 seed with a twice-to-win disadvantage.

Gauged against Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals, the Kings relied on the time machine brought by Jayjay Helterbrand in Game 1 and the nerves of steel of Macklin in Game 2 to do the unthinkable-- come back from a twice-to-beat disadvantage. They went on to beat Talk n Text 3-2 in the semifinals but was swept by the Aces in the Finals.

Fast forward to the Governor's Cup, Barangay Ginebra is back in the same predicament. Already without big man Kerby Raymundo, Ginebra also lost new acquisition Japeth Aguilar to strained MCL which will sideline him for about 4 weeks.

The current conference is just a single round affair so every win is important. With just 5 games remaining in their schedule, Barangay Ginebra needs to once again summon their "never say die" spirit to bounce back. Without a big man, teamwork will be the key to boosting Ginebra's chances for this conference. They have done it before and I believe they can do it again.

Letting Go Of The Kid

In what will go down as the "most shocking news" since the retirement of Rudy Hatfield, Barangay Ginebra is parting ways with Kerby Raymundo, one of the major pieces in its Finals run last conference. The news was all over social media networks like Facebook and Twitter and was met by mixed reactions. After all, every Ginebra fan remember the big contribution the former Letran Knight had last conference.

As it is, Kerby would be Air 21 bound for shooting big man James Sena and the Express' 2014 first round pick. The former JRU Bomber comes as a bonus but it is the latter that got Ginebra "agreeing in principle" to the proposed trade. The 2014 draft would have talents like Bobby Ray Parks, Cris Banchero, Stanley Pringle, Kevin Alas, or even Kiefer Ravena.

What saddened Ginebra faithfuls is the fact that Kerby's real potential has returned. I mean everyone knows how he made life miserable for the big men of Rain or Shine in their quarterfinal showdown as well as in their semifinals encounter with Talk n Text.

I guess the trigger that made management agree to trading Kerby is the arrival of Japeth Aguilar. Both play the same position but the advantage of Japeth is he is 6'9" yet very athletic. Aside from that, Kerby is injured while Japeth is coming off a very successful stint with the national team. In addition, Ginebra is also planning to reactivate Eric Menk from the inactive list which makes trading Kerby justifiable.

But apparently the Kerby trade does not end there. After being released to Air 21, the Express will release The Kid to the Bolts along with Mike Cortez for Mark Cardona and the rights to Asi Taulava. Everyone knows that Ginebra management salivates at the thought of having The Rock in their lineup. The opportunity knocked via Kerby Raymundo.

Although it is still up for the approval of Commissioner Chito Salud, it is more likely that Kerby will no longer be wearing the Ginebra uniform when he returns from injury. Like every Ginebra fan, I am deeply saddened with his departure but that's basketball. So thank you Kerby and good luck.

Silver Shining Like Gold

Last week, PBA fans witnessed history unfold as the Gilas Pilipinas put the country back in the world basketball map by beating South Korea in the semifinals of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship held at the Mall of Asia Arena from August 1- 11. It was perhaps the biggest day in the history of Philippine basketball as the Gilas squad defeated the Koreans 86-79 behind the hot hands of skipper Jimmy Alapag.

For years, the Koreans have been a thorn on the side of the Philippine basketball team. In the Asian basketball scene, Korea denied Team Philippines of several chances to glory. In the 2002 Asian Games, Cho Sang Min's buzzer beating three point shot broke the heart of many Filipinos. It denied the Philippines the bronze medal. In the 2011 Wuhan FIBA Asia Championship, it was another three point shot that dashed the Filipino's hopes of making it to the 2012 World Championships.

With those stinging losses still fresh in the mind of Gilas Pilipinas, Team Philippines engaged the Koreans in a tight battle until the end. At first, it looked like history would repeat itself as Korea stormed to a two point lead 75-73 behind the hot hands of Kim Mingoo who led a Korean comeback from 10 points down. Skipper Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo then took charge and gave Gilas a five point cushion at 84-79.Kim Mingoo had another open look but Gabe Norwood blocked his shot and Marc Pingris sealed the win with a follow-up of a Castro miss. The Filipinos finally defeated the Koreans. With that win, they make a return trip to the FIBA World Championships.

It was mission accomplished for Gilas Pilipinas. Although they fell to Haddadi and company in the Finals 85-71, they finished off what they wanted in the first place and that is book a seat in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Iran bagged the gold but the silver medal of Gilas Pilipinas glittered like gold for the Filipinos. It was the fruit of a decades long dream of playing in the big stage.

So see you in Spain Team Philippines!

Rebuilding For The Future

 After their 1st runner-up finish in the recently concluded Commissioner's Cup, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel went down to business and renewed their rebuilding process. They started by acquiring Josh Urbiztondo from Barako Bull in place of Keith Jensen. Their most recent acquisition is Japeth Aguilar in place of Yousef Taha and a 2013 first round pick.

It is common knowledge that Ginebra's glaring weakness ever since is a dominant big man in the mold of an Eric Menk or a Marlou Aquino. This weakness was quite glaring during the Finals series when Ginebra had no one to match up with Sonny Thoss. While Japeth may not have the post moves of Menk or Aquino, he has the defense and intimidation factor. He also has a decent shot from the outside and can drive strong to the basket. He is like a Cris Bosh.

Reportedly, Ginebra is not yet done tinkering with their line-up as they are keen on getting Asi Taulava. The problem is he is still under contract with the Bolts. Ginebra is really keen on getting the services of the 2013 ABL MVP to man the slot for them. I know they will move mountains to bring Asi to their fold. 

Clearly, Ginebra is rebuilding for its future. With the core of its team already reaching the twilight of their careers, Coach Alfrancis Chua is starting to inject young blood in its line-up. The likes of Chris Ellis, Dylan Ababou, Mac Barracael, LA Tenorio, and now Japeth Aguilar is set to become the "future of Ginebra." Hopefully this new line-up will bring more championships to the franchise.

Hats Off To The Champion of the People

 
Once again, Ginebra failed in its bid to win its ninth title losing to the Aces in three games. 23,406 fans trooped to the Big Dome last night bracing for another "Ginebra miracle." The first three quarters gave Ginebra diehards a ray of hope as their outside shots were clicking. Their defense was also solid. The likes of LA Tenorio, who earlier won the Best Player of the Conference, and 2009 MVP Jayjay Helterbrand were killing the Aces from downtown. Chris Ellis' inside incursion was also working for Ginebra.

But as soon as the Aces turned their offense and defense a notch higher, things started to fall apart for Ginebra. Alaska limited the Kings to just eight points enroute to a 104-80 win and recording only the eighth sweep in a Best-of-5 series. For Ginebra, a runner-up finish is already an accomplishment considering all the adversities the team has gone through.

Barangay Ginebra started 0-4 with Herbert Hill as their import. Vernon Macklin came in and led the Kings to a six-game winning streak. But just when things were starting to hum for Ginebra, Mark Caguioa went down with an MCL injury. Luckily, other locals such as LA Tenorio, Mac Baracael, and JJ Helterbrand stepped up big time. However, the Kings ended their eliminations with a two-game losing streak.


The road to the Finals was not easy for Ginebra. As the 7th-seeded team, they had to beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters twice and that they did. In the semifinals against Talk n Text, they again needed to come from behind to beat Talk n Text 3-2 to arrange a date with Alaska in the Finals.

Bad news struck Ginebra once again as Vernon Macklin suffered a bruised right thigh which got banged up in the Talk n Text series. Not wanting to disappoint the team and its legion of fans, V-Mack played through the pain which somehow limited his movement. That development left Ginebra vulnerable to Dozier and Thoss' inside incursions.

Considering all the odds that Ginebra had to go through during the entire conference, their stint in the Finals is already an accomplishment. A runner-up finish is better than nothing at all. 2nd place is the next step to a championship. As they say, never underestimate the heart of a champion. Like a wounded tiger, Ginebra will always come back hungrier and tougher. Ginebra's time will come. For us Ginebra fans, that will be the day. Anyway, BGSM will always be the champion in our hearts. Thank you Ginebra for a great ride and can't wait to see you go for the crown again next conference.

Destiny Beckons Ginebra

After a 0-5 start, who would ever thought that Barangay Ginebra San Miguel would still make it to the Finals? Yes, the Kings may be turning heads right now especially with the misfortunes and challenges that they overcame before making it to the Finals.

Things did not auger well for Ginebra at the start of the conference. Despite a lackluster performance from original import Herbert Hill during the pre-conference, management decided to stick with Hill and give him a chance to prove himself. However, after three games, BGSM thought it best to give Herbert the pink slip and brought in former Detroit Pistons Vernon Macklin.

V-Mack lost his first game against Alaska but then powered Ginebra to a six-game winning streak. Slowly but surely, the Kings got themselves out of the cellar. But just when things are starting to look bright for BGSM, Mark Caguioa went down with an MCL injury. Once again, everyone started to doubt Ginebra's chances for this conference.

With the likes of Kerby Raymundo, Cris Ellis, Mac Barracael and of course, V-Mack, Ginebra advanced to the quarterfinals stage as the 7th seed. But the road to the championship will not be easy as they faced a twice-to-beat disadvantage against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. With their never-say-die spirit in tow and with the vintage performance of Jayjay Helterbrand, Ginebra brought the series into a do-or-die second game.

In the second game, V-Mack's pressured pack free throws sealed the deal for the Kings sending Ginebra to the semifinals against the Talk n Text Tropang Texters. It was another come from behind victory for Ginebra proving that they are still the "Never Say Die" team.

In the semis, Ginebra faces yet another daunting task. They need to beat the championship caliber team Talk n Text who have been in this stage of the tournament nine times before. The task is more daunting as they need to overcome the Texters without their main man Mark Caguioa.

Ginebra won the first game 104-81 but lost the next two. Once again, BGSM is in a familiar situation of winning two games to advance to the Finals. For the second time this conference, Ginebra's "never-say-die"spirit prevailed as they came back strong to beat Talk n Text in Games 4and 5.

Ginebra next faces the no.1 team this conference, the Alaska Aces. It is not going to be easy once again as Alaska is also keen on winning their 14th title. To overcome this challenge, they need to once again summon their inner strength. V-Mack, LA Tenorio, Jayjay Helterbrand, and the rest of the Kings must once again step up big time.

Is Barangay Ginebra San Miguel destined to win their ninth championship? The team and its legion of fans are all very hungry for another title. Nobody expected them to be in this stage considering their 0-5 start. They have overcome all the odds to be in this position. Now, they must once again surpass another obstacle to finally end their title drought.

The Road To The Finals Starts Today

Four years without a title. That's always the argument haters use against our beloved Ginebra. That's also the reason why die-hard Ginebra fans remain loyal and supportive of the team. Many of us are waiting and anticipating the end of BGSM's championship drought.

Finally, that championship stint is just five games away. But the road is going to be tough as it would have to be against the mighty Talk n Text. With their championship experience, the Texters are clearly the favorites in this series. But never underestimate the heart of the barangay. BGSM's win against Rain or Shine was a living proof of the team's fighting heart. With a twice-to-beat disadvantage, the Kings dug deep and mustered all their strength to pull off what many consider as "insurmountable odds." The truth is with Ginebra nothing is "insurmountable."

Once again, Ginebra needs to overcome the odds in order to give their fans every reason to be even more supportive of them. The road to the Finals starts in Game 1. Yes, it may be long and arduous but knowing their "never say die" attitude, the Kings will find a way to emerge on top.

David vs. Goliath

 
Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra begins their semifinal duel tomorrow April 26. Slated to be a best-of-five, this series can be likened to a David and Goliath kind of an encounter. The Texters is handled by grand slam coach Norman Black while Ginebra's Alfrancis Chua is looking for his first title as a coach in the PBA. Aside from that, Talk n Text has been a permanent fixture in the semifinals of every conference. This is their ninth straight appearance in the semifinals.

The two teams have split their two meetings this conference. Ginebra won their first encounter 107-100. that time, they still had Mark Caguioa who scattered 28 points and Talk n Text still had Donnell Harvey. In their second meeting, the Texters handily won 100-86. This time around there was no Caguioa and Harvey.

This is the first time since 2011 that the two teams are meeting in a series. With Nate Brumfield as Ginebra's reinforcement and Paul Harris as the import of Talk n Text, the latter won their Finals series 4-2. Since then the Kings have failed to move past the semifinals.

The Texters are heavily favored in this series. Their lineup is deep from top to bottom. They are loaded with shooters and have been together for several years already. Thus, their chemistry as a unit can no longer be questioned. On the other hand, Ginebra have been involved in several trades the last one involving Josh Urbiztondo for rookie Keith Jensen and a second round pick. Being in the Finals for several conferences already, championship experience is in the favor of Talk n Text.

Ginebra's last title was in 2008 and hence they would look for a way to solve any advantage that the Texters may have on them. With their "never-say-die" spirit in tow, I am sure that the Kings would not go down easily and make things hard for Talk n Text.

Chasing Destiny

 
Once again, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is etching its name in the PBA history books becoming the ninth team to overcome a twice-to-beat disadvantage to advance to the semifinals. Of the nine teams that did it, Ginebra has the most number of comebacks with three. They did the trick in 1999 behind Bal David's last second shot against the top seeded Mobiline. They repeated the feat in 2001 against Purefoods thanks to Ronald Magtulis' offensive rebound. And against Rain or Shine last night, they erased that twice-to-beat disadvantage.

Coming into that do-or-die game, Ginebra lost main man Mark Caguioa due to an MCL injury. Aside from that, they ended their elimination round campaign with back-to-back losses against Alaska and Talk n Text. To boost their chances, they secured Josh Urbiztondo from Barako Bull in exchange for Keith Jensen and a second round pick.

Come game time, the Kings had a miserable first half and even went down by 15 points in the third quarter. But Jayjay Helterbrand turned back time and brought Ginebra back into the game. With Kerby Raymundo assisting him, the 2009 MVP scored all of his 13 points in the 4th quarter and went 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Before Rain or Shine could recover, the Kings were already ahead and heading to victory.

In the second match, Vernon Macklin showed nerves of steel in hitting two crucial free throws which proved to be the winning margin for the Kings. He then came back on the other end to block the lay-up of Jeff Chan. Defense then did it for Ginebra in the final 6 seconds to seal the win and a place in the Final Four.

Now Ginebra looks to overcome another obstacle in the person of Talk n Text. With nine straight semifinals appearances, the Texters swept the Petron Blaze Boosters in their best-of-three quarterfinal series.The two teams split their matches this conference. Playing against Talk n Text is always tough. With a 7 foot import in Jerome Jordan, it will definitely be a long and ardous climb for the Kings if they want to move to their first Finals since 2008, the last time they became champions.

Coach Alfrancis Chua is looking to chase another Ginebra milestone. He is seeking to become the third Ginebra coach to win a championship in their first season after Siot Tanquincen and Jong Uichico. It will also be his first championship as a coach.

Is destiny calling Ginebra? It's been a long time since the Kings have won a title. With V-Mack in tow, is it finally time for the Kings to win another championship?

Is History Repeating Itself?

It was just a few weeks ago when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was struggling to win. They started with a 0-4 record with Herbert Hill in tow. Would you believe it the most popular team is now red hot with a six game winning streak. With only two games left, they can go 8-0. Their six game run is the longest streak this conference.

Ginebra's current run and its 2008 championship has several similarities. Its current import Vernon Macklin came in as a replacement for the original. The last time Ginebra won a championship, they went 13-0. Now, they are 6-0 since V-Mack came in. His entry may have energized not only LA Tenorio's game but also everyone on the roster.

In the middle of their losing slump, MC47 said in an interview that there was nowhere to go but up. With all their struggles in the early part of the conference, who would have thought that Ginebra has now rebounded from being in the cellar to becoming the hottest team in the league right now.

Barangay Ginebra has found a way to win without its main man. They did it with ball movement, teamwork, and the help of a one gem of an import named Vernon Macklin. The Kings have a four year title drought. With V-Mack in tow, Ginebra fans are hoping that the Kings will finally nail their ninth title. We are all hoping for a repeat of 2008.

No MC, No Problem

Reigning Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa was a vital part of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's four-game winning streak. Lodging in almost 23 points a game, Caguioa did not see action in their game against Barako last Sunday due to a Grade 1 MCL Sprain injury. He was advised by doctors to rest for at least a week.

For Ginebra fans, it was a huge cause of concern. Caguioa was the most consistent producer for the Kings. Without the reigning MVP, where will the Kings get offensive production. Answer: LA Tenorio and Vernon Macklin.

Yes, V-Mack and LA stepped up big for BGSM finishing with 33 and 27 points, respectively more than making up for the numbers of MC47. In the first quarter, LA immediately went to work scoring 10 points right away. Macklin, on the other hand, dominated the opponent getting 22 rebounds. Not to mention, the highlight plays.

But it was not only these two players who stepped up but also the other locals. Mac Barracael and Chris Ellis was productive. The Rudy Hatfield of old showed up during the game contributing 7 points plus his hustle and energy. Little Robbie also stood tall that night. The Kid was a grown up that night as well.

In other words, the absence of its acknowledged leader was not felt in that game with solid numbers from its locals. With an offense like that, Ginebra is hard to stop. During that game, BGSM showed that it is not a Mark Caguioa team only but a team that wins with teamwork and defense.

2-Game Winning Streak: Hope This Is The Start

A huge win by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel over Talk n Text 107-100. For the first time this conference, Ginebra won back-to-back games. Led by MC47 and the Tenorio-Macklin connection, the Kings won their second straight game, their 3rd win in the last 4 games. In their last two games, they defeated the defending Commissioner's Cup champions San Mig Coffee Mixers and the champion of the last conference the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

It was a promising sight for us Ginebra fans who have long been waiting for our favorite team's ninth title. The back-to-back wins reminds me of the last time the Kings won their last title in 2008. With a 0-5 record, Ginebra, who then had Eric Menk, Ronald Tubid, and Sunday Salvacion in their fold, brought in Cris Alexander as their import. The Kings lost two more games before winning 13 straight games to beat Air 21 in the Finals.

Yes, the line-up is much different now. MC47, JJ Helterbrand, Rudy Hatfield is still in the roster. Joining them are a bunch of young guys in Cris Ellis, Keith Jensen, Rico Maierhoffer, Yousef Taha, Mac Barracael who are being groomed as the team's future. But the team is solid from top to bottom. So the prospect of a ninth title is not that remote.

Since his arrival, Vernon Macklin has gone 3-2. His energy in the court, his high-flying moves, and his intensity is slowly but surely rubbing off to his teammates. Something which Herbert Hill obviously lacked. Now, BGSM is on a two-game roll nearing the end of the first round of eliminations and with still 6 games to go in the second round of eliminations.

Mark Caguioa is leading the BPC race for this conference and is second best in scoring. But he is showing why he is the reigning Most Valuable Player of the league. His rejuvenated game is slowly paying dividends for the King.

With a 3-5 record, Ginebra is still very much in contention for the playoffs. They have back-to-back wins at their disposal. With LA seemingly having found his game back and with V-Mac the right fit for BGSM, we BGSM fans are hopeful that this would indeed start the change of fortunes for Ginebra.

0-3 Will Vernon Macklin Save The Day For Ginebra?

Ginebra hopefuls are hoping that Vernon Macklin (32) will help Barangay Ginebra's campaign in the Commissioner's Cup

Three games in to the Commissioner's Cup and Barangay Ginebra still has to register its first win. The latest defeat is at the hands of sister team Petron 105-90. It was another lackluster peformance for import Herbert Hill who also played his last game as new import Vernon Macklin is set to take his place. Hill's farewell performance statistics: 16 points, 11 rebounds, a couple of blocks but had six turnovers.

Herbert Hill could have been a good import. He has the post moves but is a soft defender and lacks intensity. A long time without non-competitive basketball may have taken its toll on Hill. As a fan, I am saddened to see a good man like Herbert Hill go but the team has to move on and focus on its future.

At 0-3, Barangay Ginebra now places its future at the hands of Vernon Macklin. Fresh from his stint with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Developmental League, Ginebra fans are hoping that he is indeed the savior for Ginebra. He is set to plane in on Monday morning and will attend Ginebra's practice on Tuesday. He makes his debut against Alaska in a road game in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on Saturday, February 23.

Macklin was the 52nd overall draft of the Detroit Pistons in 2011. The former Florida Gators' player also played in the Turkish League before hooking up with the Vipers in the D-League where he logged in 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds a game.

Ginebra fans are hoping that his solid credentials will help the team move up in the standings and hopefully to the Finals and its first championship since 2008.

Macmac Barracael Joins The Barangay

After installing Alfrancis Chua as its coach, Barangay Ginebra management releases swingman Alain Maliksi for Gilas member and former Alaska Aces Macmac Barracael. The trade has been approved making the FEU stalwart the newest ka-Barangay.

For me, I would say that it is a good trade considering that Barracael is a forward with an excellent touch from the outside. Defensively, he can also contribute. He can be the future of Ginebra in the forward spot once Rudy Hatfield and Willie Wilson calls it quits.

I have nothing against Alain Maliksi but I would go for Barracael on any given night. Maliksi could have been the next Mark Caguioa of Ginebra but his tendency to give up cheap fouls is an eye sore. How many times has he fouled a player shooting three pointers. Besides, with Chris Ellis and Dylan Ababou vital cogs of the team, trading him is a good move.

With Barracael, Ginebra gets a hardworker inside. Despite being only 6'3", he is not afraid to bang bodies inside. He will give to Ginebra what Rudy Hatfield and Willie Wilson gives: energy and hustle. His training as a Gilas member would surely benefit the Kings in their campaign next conference.

So welcome to the barangay Macmac Barracael and thank you Alain Maliksi.

New Year, New Beginning For Ginebra

After losing to Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup, Ginebra management greeted 2013 with a development seen by die-hard Ginebra fans as a welcome news: a coaching change. Team consultant Alfrancis Chua takes over from Coach Siot Tanquincen as head coach of Barangay Ginebra.

Although not the person that fans clamored for, it would be a fresh start for the most popular team in the PBA who is still looking for a title since winning their last in 2008. Coach Alfrancis Chua's last coaching stint was with Tanduay, a team that had Sonny Alvarado, Eric Menk, Rudy Hatfield, and Dondon Hontiveros. In the amateurs, he had won numerous titles as coach of Stag Pale Pilsen which had Marlou Aquino, Mark Clemence Telan, and Jason Webb.

Coach Siot Tanquincen would slide down to first assistant. As a coach, the farthest he led Ginebra was the quarterfinals despite having one of  best line-ups in the league. Coach Siot Tanquincen was responsible for trading away players like John Wilson, KG Canaleta, Enrico Villanueva, Ronald Tubid, who thrived well with the Gin Kings.

Coach Alfrancis Chua is still looking for his first PBA title. However, he is considered as a "players' coach" who brings out the best in his players. A team loaded with talent can sure use a coach of his caliber. While it remains to be seen whether Coach Alfrancis Chua would finally be the one to end Ginebra's title drought, his assumption as head coach of is a positive move towards achieving that goal.